Australian Government to introduce religious discrimination legislation into federal parliament this week
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will introduce legislation into federal parliament on 25th November that makes discrimination on the grounds of religious belief unlawful across several areas of society, including employment. It’s expected a vote on the Bill could take place next week, with a Senate inquiry to consider the laws before they are enacted. […]
Majority of Australians support freedom of religion, new poll shows
Sydney, Australia Almost two thirds of Australians support people’s legal right to choose and express their religious faith, a new poll shows. The survey also found a majority say health professionals and organisations of faith should not be forced to perform services which contravene their religious beliefs, while 60 per cent say religious schools should […]
Human rights legislation a better option than Australia’s proposed religious freedom reforms, say lawyers
Australians would be better served through new human rights legislation with proven mechanisms to adjudicate conflicts involving religion rather than the Federal Government’s proposed religious freedom bill, a panel of expert lawyers said this week. In a 90 minute online event convened by the Law Society of New South Wales on Tuesday, Rosalind Croucher, president […]
Folau settlement was a “commercial” decision – Rugby Australia boss
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has defended the governing body’s settlement with Israel Folau as a “commercial decision” and necessary to avoid the cost and distraction of testing its inclusion policy in court. RA and Folau announced on Wednesday they had settled their unfair dismissal case, ending a long and bitter dispute after […]
Israel Folau settles unfair dismissal case with Rugby Australia
Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has settled his unfair dismissal case with Rugby Australia and Super Rugby team the New South Wales Waratahs, bringing an end to a prolonged and bitter dispute triggered by an explosive social media post. Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, launched legal action after his four-year contract was torn up […]
Former Wallaby Folau hikes unfair dismissal claim to $A14 million
Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has raised his compensation claim against Rugby Australia (RA) and the New South Wales Waratahs to $A14 million in an updated court filing. Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, was previously seeking $A10 million in damages from RA and the Waratahs, who terminated his four-year contract in May after he […]
Australia’s devastating bushfires reflect God’s wrath, rugby star preaches
Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Australia’s Pentecostal prime minister on Monday rebuked a former national rugby star who claimed recent deadly bushfires and a devastating drought were God’s punishment for the country allowing same-sex marriage and abortion. Israel Folau, who was sacked from a multi-million dollar rugby contract in May after posting on Instagram that hell awaited “drunks, […]
Australia unveils religious freedom bill, after rugby star sacked for ‘hell awaits homosexuals’ post
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia on Thursday proposed legislation to protect people who express their religious faith outside of the workplace, a few months after Rugby Union international Israel Folau was sacked for posting on social media that hell awaited “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers”. Attorney-General Christian Porter said the proposal would allow Australians to express their religious beliefs […]
In Australia, Israel Folau case set for trial in early 2020
Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Israel Folau’s unfair dismissal case against Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs will head to trial in February, 2020, if no settlement is reached beforehand. Fundamentalist Christian Folau is fighting the termination of his four-year contract in May after he posted a meme on social media that said hell awaited “drunks, […]
Israel Folau launches court action over Rugby Australia dismissal
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Israel Folau has formally launched Federal court proceedings against Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs over his dismissal for a code of conduct breach, the former Wallabies fullback said on Thursday. Folau’s four-year contract was torn up in May after he posted a meme on social media that said hell awaited […]